Washington: US President Donald Trump will “address the nation” Tuesday over the ongoing “humanitarian and national security crisis” on the country’s southern border, two days before his scheduled trip to the region.
Trump made the announcement in a tweet late Monday night, reports CNN.
“I am pleased to inform you that I will address the nation on the humanitarian and national security crisis on our southern border. Tuesday night at 9 p.m.,” the President tweeted.
The tweet comes as the government shutdown begins its third week, with Trump and congressional Democrats at an impasse over the President’s demand for nearly $6 billion in federal funding to build a wall on the southern border.
A White House official said Trump wants to make his case about the government shutdown and wall funding in advance of Thursday’s border trip.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced Monday morning that Trump will head to the US-Mexico border to “meet with those on the front lines of the national security and humanitarian crisis”.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has flatly rejected providing any funding for the border wall to resolve the stalemate.
Trump has threatened to drag on the shutdown for months or even years if he does not get funding for the border wall.
IANS